Protector of the Realm Read Free

uniform. I’m detecting bacteria in what appears to be an open wound.”
    “It isn’t necessary. I’ve bandaged it myself.”
    “It’s infected, and I have no way of knowing how bad it is without an ocular inspection.”
    “Very well.” Kellen straightened her back. “Could I have some privacy, please?”
    “Of course.” The doctor tugged at a curtain, partly obscuring the other guard’s vision. “He can still see us, so don’t try to fool me, Ms. O’Dal.”
    “I’m not.”
    Standing up, Kellen unfastened her leather suit and peeled it off her shoulders and down across her hips. She couldn’t help but moan when it slid over the injury in her left thigh. She sat on the gurney, biting her lower lip to keep from whimpering when Gemma carefully peeled off the makeshift bandage.
    “God,” the physician murmured. “And you call this nothing? What the hell caused it?”
    “Ambassador M’Ekar’s way of dealing with me.” Kellen ground her teeth at the searing pain.
    “This isn’t new. When did it happen?”
    “When we left Gantharat twenty-two days ago.”
    Gemma scanned the infected area of the five-inch-long wound. “It needs treatment. How could you let it become so bad?”
    “I tried to keep it clean, but we have a limited supply of medications aboard the Kithanya .”
    Gemma reached for an injection device. “This is for the pain and is also an anti-inflammatory. Further scans will determine which bacteria are causing this mess, and we’ll give you an intravenous infusion of the right medication to help you heal and make it possible for me to close the wound later.” She pressed the imbulizer against Kellen’s upper arm. “I can't believe you tried to clean this yourself. Without the right pain relief, it must have hurt like hell.”
    “What, exactly, must’ve hurt?” a husky voice said from behind the screen.
    “Commodore, come in and take a look at this.” Gemma took a step back.
    Kellen did her best to conceal her annoyance when the woman in charge of the space station rounded the screen to join them. She was reluctant to show any sign of weakness, even if it was merely a wounded leg.
    Commodore Jacelon looked at the wound on Kellen’s leg with a puzzling expression on her face. Kellen recognized anger mixed with something close to remorse, and she wondered why she would look at a perfect stranger with so much feeling. Perhaps she doesn’t realize how visible her emotions are to me?
    “I can’t imagine how you’ve managed to move, let alone walk, with your leg in that condition.” Jacelon shook her head.
    “Ms. O’Dal shouldn’t be on her feet at all until I’ve closed this wound. I'll admit her to the infirmary and—”
    “No,” Kellen objected. “I can’t be away from Armeo. I will not have him incarcerated without me.”
    Commodore Jacelon looked affronted. “I've thought about your situation and…seeing this,” she gestured toward the injury, “reaffirms what I've decided.”
    Kellen raised an eyebrow, unable to keep sarcasm out of her voice. “Do go on, Commodore.”
    “You’re in SC custody and so is the boy. We’d never throw a child into the brig--and we don’t do that to seriously injured people either. I will assign proper quarters for you both. Armed guards will be on duty at all times, so don't fool yourself that you can escape.”
    “Why are you being so kind?” Kellen immediately regretted how she phrased the question, afraid she might sound as if she needed compassion from this woman.
    “It may be hard for you to believe, but I’m not inhumane. A child's future is at stake, and by the looks of it, so is your health.” The commodore turned to walk away. Stopping before she rounded the screen, she shot Kellen a glance. “This is a gesture of good faith on my behalf. Don't let me down, Kellen. You won’t like the consequences if you do.”

    *

    “You gave that good-looking Gantharian woman her own quarters?” Rae’s longtime second in